Invitrogen™ β-Gal Staining Kit

Colorimetric assay for detecting lacZ expression in transfected eukaryotic cells

The Invitrogen™ β-Gal Staining Kit provides a reliable, colorimetric method for determining the percentage of eukaryotic cells expressing the lacZ reporter gene. The lacZ gene encodes β-galactosidase, a robust enzyme resistant to proteolysis in cell lysates, making it ideal for reporter assays.

In the presence of the chromogenic substrate X-Gal (5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indolyl-β-D-galactopyranoside), β-galactosidase hydrolyzes X-Gal into galactose and 4-chloro-3-bromo-indigo, producing a distinct blue precipitate. This allows for direct microscopic visualization of β-galactosidase activity in transfected cells, enabling precise calculation of transfection efficiency.

Key Features

• Direct Visualization – Blue staining for quick identification of lacZ-expressing cells
• Quantitative Capability – Enables percentage calculation of transfected cell populations
• Robust Detection – β-galactosidase stability ensures reliable assay results
• Complete Kit – Includes all necessary reagents, including a control plasmid (pcDNA™ 3.1/His/lacZ)
• Flexible Use – Suitable for multiple cell culture formats

Applications

• Determination of transfection efficiency in mammalian cells
• Reporter gene expression analysis using the lacZ system
• β-galactosidase detection in fixed cell samples
• Functional studies of gene regulation with lacZ reporters

Specifications

The Invitrogen™ β-Gal Staining Kit offers researchers a straightforward and reliable solution for detecting lacZ expression in mammalian cells. With all reagents included, including a positive control vector, this kit simplifies β-galactosidase reporter assays for both qualitative and quantitative applications.